At international level, she was a goal scoring machine, scouted by rival coaches and feared by opponents. Much of that influence came from her left and right-handed skills in feeding and shooting.
It was at Wilderness School that Shirley Ploog first picked up a lacrosse stick and played C Grade with North Adelaide, ultimately emerging at her peak as one of the hardest-to-contain players in the world.
She possessed a ferocity of competitiveness that may have emanated from playing against men at the Adelaide University Lacrosse Club in the early 1980s.
Or perhaps it was simply in her blood. She was relentless in enhancing and refining her skills.
At an international level, she was a goal scoring machine for Australia, scouted by rival coaches and feared by opponents.
Much of that influence came from her left and right-handed skills in feeding and shooting. She was fit and quick and could lose opponents with foot speed – but her vigorous approach made it that more challenging to restrict her.
At the first ever Women’s World Cup in 1982, Australia, led by Ploog and several powerful SA players, finished with a silver medal in heart-breaking circumstances.
Leading 6-1 at half time in the final against the mighty US, the game was drawn 7-7 at full time, and Australia eventually fell 7-10.
However, some compensation came with the announcement of the All-World Team in which Ploog was selected.
Furthermore, the Number 12 for Australia was named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Ploog had been a standout in every game, and the award was testimony to her skills, fitness and ferocious determination.
The contrast off the field could not have been starker. Shirley Ploog was a warm, bubbly, smiling, personality, respectful towards umpires and popular with teammates.
The year 1982 had been an outstanding one for Ploog, who in that year was also awarded the SAWLA A Grade Best and Fairest Award.
It was in 1986, at the second world tournament, that everything came together for the Australians, using free-flowing teamwork and greater will to overcome the edge the Americans may have had in skills.
Australia took pleasure in defeating the US in the final, and at last standing on the top of the mountain.
Prior to the 1989 World Championship, Shirley Ploog, moved to Victoria but is still considered a South Australian at heart.
